The provincial government kindly kicked in $1,500 toward the purchase of my last car.

The money was my reward for choosing an unusually fuel-efficient vehicle (even if, as neither the government nor I knew at the time, my Volkswagen diesel turned out to be not so eco-friendly).

But my last bicycle got not even a sales tax break, despite it being an even greener way to get around. The timing was wrong — it was purchased during the HST era (2010 to 2013), so it didn’t get the seven-per-cent PST exemption that existed previously and that has since been reinstated.

And my newest bicycle? When it is delivered next week, the price will include 12 per cent tax — five per cent federal plus seven per cent provincial.

Why won’t this bike get the reinstated exemption? Because I’m adding an electric assist motor, and this, under the arcane PST rules, makes the whole shebang taxable.

Which makes no sense. Very little Canadian data on e-bikes exists, but studies elsewhere suggest each bicycle with electric assist is likely to take more gas-guzzling traffic off the road than one run solely on pedal power. European data shows e-bikes typically travel nearly twice as far each day as other bicycles. As well, travel times are cut by as much as 50 per cent, riders don’t feel compelled to dress up in Lycra that enhances every bulge, and they are much less likely to arrive at their destination sweat-stained and smelling like anything but a rose.

These bikes aren’t merely mini-motorcycles — most must be pedalled for the motor assist to kick in, and the amount of exertion required ranges from light on the flat or downhill to quite substantial going up a long, hard hill. So there are health benefits to e-bikes, too, especially when they are ridden farther than conventional bikes.

The upshot is they can, and should, appeal to potential riders who won’t consider a pedal-powered bike for reasons of stamina or time or need to look presentable.

And, even though it is older riders who most often shell out the extra money to add a motor, e-bikes aren’t simply for old duffers or people with mobility challenges.

Indeed, Richard Campbell, the executive director of the B.C. Cycling Coalition and a guy committed to getting around on two wheels, says he used to ride one daily between SFU and his home in Kits. Significantly, it cut his trip time from 1-1/2 hours to just over one.

The finance ministry tells me the PST exemption for conventional bikes goes back to 1981, but the e-bike exemption was never intended to be permanent. It was introduced in 2008 as part of the government’s climate action plan, and had a sunset date in 2011. What would have been its full term expired during the HST era, and it wasn’t renewed when the PST was reintroduced.

The rationale is sound for some time-limited tax exemptions, although perhaps not this one. For some such initiatives — for example, the period when energy-efficient appliances were getting a break — it can be argued that this sped the process of making energy-efficient choices dominant in the market. In the case of e-bikes, however, they are so far from market-dominant — only about five per cent of bikes on the road, according to Campbell’s estimate — that this argument doesn’t apply.

But reading between the lines of the what the ministry told me, the e-bike tax policy may not be cast in stone. The amount at stake isn’t much in the context of a $47-billion operating budget — $100-$200 per buyer, but totalling well under $1 million a year, by my reckoning. And a ministry spokesman seemed to take pains to underline that tax policies like this are reviewed annually and are often responsive to public opinion.

No promise was stated or implied, but it sounded a bit like, “Ask and it will be given.”

And Campbell and the coalition are about to ask. They are gathering signatures on an online petition (www.bccc.bc.ca/electric) calling for a tax break on e-bikes, as well as substantially more investment in infrastructure to support biking, walking, in-line skating and the like.

More infrastructure spending is a tough call, depending on money available and other priorities. But the tax break on e-bikes should be an easy decision.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Share

Don Cayo: Tax on e-bikes makes no sense

Video

Today's Headline Videos

Best of Postmedia

To steel himself for the year-long journey that began Wednesday, Jonathan Pitre has been going over the hard calculus that underpins his decision to pursue a high-risk, high-reward treatment in Minnesota

When he woke up in tears the morning after he had cried himself to sleep, Rohit Saxena knew what he had to do. Leaving his wife, Lesley, asleep in bed, Rohit went downstairs, opened his laptop and began to write. “They say your kids are your hearts outside your body,” he wrote. “I’ll always be […]

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.